Ice Dam Prevention: How to Keep Your Roof and Driveway Safe

Ice dams are a common wintertime problem. They can cause roof leaks and even water damage to structures and interiors. Ice dams occur when snow on your roof melts and refreezes at the edge of your roof, forming a barrier that prevents water from draining through the gutter system. 

If you’ve experienced this issue in the past or know how difficult it is. And if you’re wondering what is the safest ice melt to use on concrete, here are some tips for preventing ice dams:

Eco-Friendly Ice Melt

Not Enough Insulation And Poor Air Sealing.

The first thing to do when dealing with ice dams is to make sure your home has enough insulation. Insulation helps keep heat in your home, which prevents ice dams. In addition, there are two types of insulation: attic insulation and crawl space insulation. Attic insulation should be at least R-38 (R-value measures how well an object resists heat flow). Make sure all areas have proper ventilation so that moisture doesn’t build up around pipes or vents–this can cause mold growth later on down the road too!

Inadequate attic ventilation. If your roof is ventilated but still gets ice dams, it’s probably because you’ve got too much snow on top of your roof. If this is the case, it’s time to remove the snow.

What Is The Safest Ice Melt To Use On Concrete?

Safe Thaw Is An Ice Melt Safe Concrete. We highlight the usage of the product right on the cover so that you can be prepared with an approximate quantity throughout the season. Snowfall is unpredictable, and the ice formation can make it difficult to understand how much you will need. Safe Thaw is a urea-modified product with intense ice-melting boosters, special glycols admixture and surfactants that break the ice immediately upon impact. Next time when someone asks you which ice melt is best for concrete, you know the answer!

Gaia Enterprises Inc. delivers 100% pet-safe and environmentally friendly winter products. Safe Paw, our flagship product, is the #1 selling pet-safe ice melt that does not harm pets, safe if ingested, and safe on all types of concrete.

Roof And Gutter Maintenance.

Check gutters and downspouts for clogs. Make sure leaves, pine needles, or other debris aren’t blocking the flow of water away from your home. You can use a garden hose attached to an outdoor spigot or faucet at ground level to clean out these areas if necessary.

Clogged Drainage Systems.

Ice dams are caused by a buildup of ice on the roof. This can happen when snow melts and refreezes, causing water to pool on top of your shingles. The problem is that this water has nowhere to go except down your roof, where it freezes again as it meets colder temperatures farther down. This cycle repeats itself until there is enough ice on top of your house for it to start sliding off in chunks or sheets–and then you have an ice dam!

Certain Architectural Features.

Certain architectural features, such as sloped roofs and steep roofs, can cause ice dams. A hip roof is a type of sloped roof that has four sides. The angle between each side is usually around 45 degrees but it can vary depending on your home’s design.

Conclusion

We hope you found our guide to ice dam prevention helpful. We also hope that now you know what is the safest ice melt to use on concrete. If you have any questions or would like more information about how to prevent ice dams on your home’s roof, please contact us today!

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